Youth Congress leader who stage-managed firing sent to jail (Lead)

Hyderabad, Aug 3 (IANS) A city court on Thursday sent to jail Youth Congress leader M. Vikram Goud, who was injured in a firing stage-managed by him here last week.

The court remanded Vikram to judicial custody for 14 days, and he was later shifted to Chanchalguda Central Jail.

Vikram’s counsel moved a bail petition on the ground that his client needs medical treatment, but the court rejected it and directed jail authorities to ensure his treatment in government-run Osmania Hospital or Gandhi Hospital.

Earlier, Vikram was arrested after he was discharged from Apollo Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment since July 28.

He was arrested as he came out of the hospital on a wheelchair and shifted to a police vehicle. He was taken to the Nampally Criminal Court complex.

Vikram, 35, is the son of former Andhra Pradesh Minister and Congress leader M. Mukesh Goud.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy had on Wednesday said that Vikram was under police surveillance and would be arrested once he is discharged from Apollo Hospital.

Vikram was injured in a firing at his house in upscale Banjara Hills on July 28. He had told the police that two assailants came on a bike and escaped after firing at him. The police investigation, however, revealed that the attack was stage-managed by him only.

Police cracked the case with the arrest of five persons, while two accused are missing and on the run.

Vikram, who has produced a few Telugu movies and had investments in various businesses, offered Rs 50 lakh to a gang to shoot him, so that he could gain public sympathy in the assembly constituency from where he plans to contest the 2019 election.

He also wanted to use the incident to avoid repaying loans to some businessmen.

Vikram has been booked for abetment to commit crime, criminal conspiracy, causing disappearance of evidence, giving false information to police and for possessing and using illegal firearm.